Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.
“Go to the great city of Ninevah and proclaim to it the
message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the
Lord and went to Ninevah. (Jonah 3:1-3, NIV)
Jonah ran away from God, tried to hide and avoid taking responsibility for not listening to God. However, he could not hide from God. God found him and helped him to realize his mistake and take responsibility for it.
As mother’s we often make mistakes that we want to hide from. When that bad word slips out in our frustration with our three year old, or we hide things from our spouse to protect our 20 year old from her father’s anger, it is in our nature to cover things up and avoid responsibility. We open the door for Satan to enter our lives. However, when we slam that door by being accountable for our mistakes God enters through the open window on angel’s wings. With Satan it is all over, there are no second chances. With God we get a do over, He forgives us and gives us a second chance. All we have to do is confess our mistakes to Him and ourselves.
Do we forgive ourselves? Only by forgiving ourselves can we experience the full benefit of God’s forgiveness.
“When all these blessings and curses I have set
before you come upon you and you take them to
heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you
among the nations, and when you and your
children return to the Lord your God and obey
him with all your heart and with all your soul
according to everything, I command you today
then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and
have compassion on you and gather you again from all
the nations where he scattered you. Even if you have
been banished to the most distant land under the
heavens, from there the Lord your God
will gather you and bring you back.”
(Deuteronomy 30:1-4, NIV)
Yes, we are human and will make mistakes, and sometimes these mistakes will be responsible for mistakes in our children. These are the times when we should hold ourselves accountable. We should not hold the mistake over our heads like a saber. Instead, we should forgive ourselves, move on by asking God for His forgiveness and a second, third, and even a fourth chance. Be accountable, forgive yourself, and reach out to God. God is waiting. Do not keep yourself from the glory of being in His presence.
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